Bethesda Big Train De-Feather Orioles and Redbirds as They Capture the 2010 Cal Ripken League Championship

Game 1:

The Big Train of Bethesda steamed their way past two types of birds and took an easy championship series. It all started on Wednesday July 28th in Baltimoreagainst a tough Redbird team that was clearly not trying to allow the steel tracks of the Big Train to simply be laid upon them. In a low scoring game that was surly going to be decided with pitching, the Big Train sent out Cody Allan (St. Petersburg C.C) to start the game. He gave up his two runs in the 1st and 2nd inning, and after settling down was taken out after 4 innings and 4 hits. Then it was time to see David Russo ( San Jose State) clamp down on the Redbirds like a table vice in wood shop. His 4 innings not only gave him the win, it was also what the Big Train bats needed to get the show rolling into the sunset. Russo only gave up only 3 hits, a walk, and he struck out 5. The save was registered by BryanHamilton ( Charlotte University). He quickly closed up the night by giving up a simple hit and decisively striking out the side. On the offensive side, the loudest bat for the Big Train was second baseman Ryan Collins. The right fielder went 2 for 5 with a run scored and another run driven in. Despite Baltimore’s Patrick Scoggin (Virginia Tech) pitching a six inning gem where he only gave up 3 hits, no runs, 3 walks, and struck out 9, he received no run support as the Big Train beat the Redbirds 3-2.

Game 2: The following night, the Big Train polluted the air around the home of the native Youses Orioles. A one sided game that must have been effected by the metaphorical smoke from the Big Train engine because the Orioles reacted by committing 4 errors. Four unearned runs were charged to Orioles starting pitcher Christopher O’Grady (George Mason) who finished the night going only 3 innings, giving up 7 hits, and striking out 4. That was all the Big Train pitchers needed, as starting pitcher Cameron Love ( San Francisco) and Hugh Adams (Florida Atlantic) combined for nine innings of work and together allowed 10 hits, 5 runs, 4 walks, and struck out 7. The rest was handled by a heavy grinding offense that turned out 16 hits. Austin Harclerode ( Towson), the Train’s first baseman made the loudest and most piercing screeches from their flanged rail. He went 3 for 4 with 4 runs scored, two walks, a double, a homerun, and 2 RBI’s. The other biggest impact player for the Train was catcher Mason Morioka ( San Francisco). His shovel scooped and pushed in the most charcoal as he went 3 for 5 with 1 run scored, a double, and 4 RBI’s that raised the largest amount of flames in the game. The Big Train won the second game by the score of 11-5.

Game 4: In the game that ultimately clinched the championship for the Bethesda BigTrain, the Tournament’s MVP continued to shine brighter than a Gamma-Ray bursting directly from the front of the vessel. Once again Mason Morioka ( San Francisco) physically expressed his baseball wishes for his opponent by going 2 for 4 with a pair of RBI’s. He finished the series by hitting .417 (5 for 12) and 6 RBI’s, and now his summer batting average has improved immensely (.292). Joe Mantiply (Virginia Tech) provided a quality start and kept the Baltimore Redbirds at a safe distance for six strong innings. Mantiply gave up 7 hits, but only 2 runs crossed the plate, and 5 batters went down on strikes. Bryan Hamilton stepped up to shut down the final 1.1 innings of game and secure himself his second save of the series, and the victory for his team. He gave up 2 hits, and struck out 2 batters as he proceeded with an eloquent shut out performance. The Big Train won the game by the score of 8-4 and are officially now the 2010 Cal Ripken League Champions.